About Us

The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society is a registered Charity established in 1865 and incorporated under Royal Charter. The objects of the Society are:

• To provide, carry on and maintain Homes or housing for the care of aged, infirm or disabled seafarers, their widows or dependants.
• To act as trustee or almoner for granting relief to seafarers as defined above or to the widows or dependants of any such seafarers. (This object is currently held in abeyance.)

On New Year’s Day 1867 “The Belvedere Institution” at Erith in Kent was opened and 11 Officers and 9 Ratings, all ex-Merchant Seamen, became its first residents. The Society continued to use this site until changing circumstances necessitated its closure and the Society purchased the Zachary Merton Convalescent Home in Holly Lane, Banstead, transferring its operations thereto in 1978. In the mid 1990s it became clear that the facilities provided by the Holly Lane premises were outdated and would have to be improved or replaced. In 1999 planning consent was obtained to build a new Home on the Society’s nearby Weston Acres estate. The new Belvedere House opened in March 2001; it offers a very much higher standard of accommodation than its predecessors which makes it much easier for our staff to deliver the excellent care standards of which we are so proud.

A 2004 Agreement with Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA), outsources several management functions (although remaining under our executive control): this enables us to draw on their considerable and widespread expertise and experience.